Contents

Definition

In social work,
adultcentrism has been recognized as the potential bias adults have
in understanding and responding to children.[3] This
bias is said to extend from the difference in age between the child
and the adult. The differences — including language, communication styles and
world view — can create a hurdle to overcome. Adultcentrism is
said to be akin to egocentrism, where one puts their personal
perspectives, needs and beliefs ahead of all others, as well as ethnocentrism,
which places a person's cultural and social beliefs ahead of all
others.[4][5]
Explaining adultcentrism, one author reports,

Adultcentrism contributes to the ongoing difficulty which
agencies experience in incorporating into their modus operandi the
practice of routine consultation with children about decisions that
affect their lives — even after training and policy
development about children's rights and participation has taken
place.[6]

Areas of
usage

In the field of occupational therapy adultcentrism
has been said to "lead researchers to underestimate children's
abilities."[7]
According to one researcher, "This stance can be seen when
researchers assume they know everything they need to know about
children because they have been children." Research has also shown
this leads adults to stay within their own perspective, thus
discriminating against children through adultism.[8] In
respect to occupational therapy, "Adultcentrism has emerged in the
family therapy
literature to describe the tendency by adults to view the world
from an adult perspective and in so doing not understand or
appreciate how children and young people are viewing things."[9]

Children, according to the pillar of adultcentrism, are seen
as "the future" and are therefore not yet full human beings capable
of making choices. The elderly are considered "past their prime"
and are often seen as a burden on society.[14]

...The word "human" evokes the mental image of an adult -- you
need to specify if you are talking about a youth. ...The field of
"psychology" deals with adults; the study of young people is
qualified as "developmental" psychology. ...Stairs, light switches,
buses, toilets, the international symbols for "men" and "women" on
bathroom doors -- are all designed with adults in mind.[16]